Flexible tube



Aug. 22, 1933. H STONE 1,923,693

FLEXIBLE TUBE Filed June 4, 1929 Sm INVENTOR memes e s2, ices messes Harry Stone, N. .37., assignoc to Titetier: Metal Hose Co, a Corporation of New Jen-soy Application nus ll, i929. Sesial No. 363,339

"Claims. 071. 133

snore durable and rugged as "well as prevent leakage and slippage in the joints such as would be caused by the rotation of the tllbil one end with relation to the other. if especially a1o nlicable to those flexible tubes orined from hellcally disposed strips and having the edges oi edjacent convolutions interfolded into fixed relation. The flexibility of the tube being provided. by a groove, lengthwise oi the strip, forming the corrugations the sides of v ich move toward or away from each other to per: it ilexure oi the tube.

to the joint either tending or acting longitudinally of foi'i ei', is liable to loosen the 1 deterioration and quick estruction of the tube. according to the present invention the parts oi the joint are held firmly togethei, preventing relative movement a line parallel to the axis the tube as well as a ciycumierential di section.

Further and more details tages will appear from the f in this type of tube indicated, stiess anto twist the tube particularly the 6. objects and advan- SPQEClfiCLE'tiOIl,

claims and drawing in we 1 shows a portion of my tubing with parts cut away to show the sectional configuration.

1 shows a modified arrangement enibcdying the features of my invention parts sip wn in section, and

1 3 shows a method of anelyin the sealin G O atei'ial.

Refeiring now more particula lg to the drawing, the tube may be formed iron-i a strip by the same method and apparatus as shown described in the Patent No. 1,198,392 to Erinlsman September 12, 1916. This tubing as formed according to this patent referred to, is fluid tight and an effective carrier of fluid for a great many purposes. However, where the tubing is subjected to rough usage or high pressures various arrangements for i'eenforcing have been successfully applied to this type of tubing. In some cases coverings designed to prevent elongation and expansion of the joint beyond the non'nalv condition have been applied.

According to the method and means for reen- Ill iorcement and leak preventing about to be de-' ture but the special means for reenforcing and strain resistance may be applied after the tube has been mechanically completed so that the tubing may be manufactured in the standard loan and retained in stock until such time as it is desired to be utilized. Then, according to the use to which the tube is intended to be subjected, the reeniorceznent may be applied as desired. The particular type of tubing, and to which the i-eenforcing has been applied, is shown in Fig. l

wherein the tubing 1 is constructed with the seam or joint 2 shown at the edges of the convoluticns of the strips from which the tube is constructed. The flexibility of this tubing is permitted by the relative movement of the corrugation sides 3 toward and away from each other.

During flexing action stress is applied to the seams 2 tending to cause them to open up, particularly great i'lexure is applied to the tube within a restricted length. Also, if rotation is imparted to one end of the tubing and the other held stationery, so as to cause a winding up action on an uncoiling oi the convclutions of the stat then there is a tendency to some slippage in joint or seam 2 so that loosening of the 30 7 joint whereby leakage and deterioration of the joint and final destruction of the usefulness of the tube, is liable to occur.

According to the present invention, in order to nrevent any movement in the joints from any cause which would occur during the ordinary use of the tubing, these joints. are i'eenioi ced by an adherent metallic coating l applied to the exterior of the tube and covering and entering within the joints. If desired, not only the joint, the entire exterior of (or any part oi) the tubing may be completely coated with the covering, such complete coating being shown in i. This is particularly adapted for use with tub= ings which are subjected to corrosion Oil wearing action, in which case the coating may be coni- ;oosed of material which is resistant to the par ticular type of corrosion 'or wearing action en= countered. The coating may be composed oi solder, lead, brazing material, zinc or other metallic elements. r

If it is found desirable to coat only. a portion of the tubing, which must be sufficient-to cover the joint or seem, a construction as shown in Fig. 2 can be utilized, in which the seam 2, which is at the crest of the corrugation, is covered with a coating 6 which adheres thereto both on the outside and will also permeate to some extent within the joint itself, sealing it and preventing a any movement whatsoever'therein.

ice

The method of applyingthis coating is more clearlyindicatedinl'ig.3inwhichacontainer8 is adapted for holding the fluidcoating material so that it may be maintained in a fluid condition and arranged in a location so that the tubing 1 may be introduced therein. This. tubing may be bent downwardly until it comes into contact with the adherent metal bath up to the point at which it is desired to coat the tube. As shown. it comes only up to, or slightly beyond the joint. However it may be immersed deep enough to cover the entire surface. While thus immersed it is given a rotary motion so as to coat the entire circumference. It may also be given a progressive, longitudinal movement so that a complete length of tubing may be properly coated by the adherent metallic coating.

'Ihe tube having been coated from the bath of material 10, which may, for instance, be molten solder or lead, as described, the hardening of that coating on cooling will secure the joint parts flrmly. together so that loosening of the joint is I prevented as well as protection against wear and corrosion being provided.

It is thus apparent that a reeniorced metallic tubing and a. method 01' reeniorcing it has been described, which is effective for both preventing leakages in the joint and as well to reeniorce the tubing structure in such a way as to prevent leakages and undue strains from being set up in the material from which the tube is constructed.

Itis not intended to be limited to the exact structure set forth but variations and modificati ons could well be included without departing from the original scope and spiriting oi the disclosure herein. I desire to be limited only as indicated in the following claims.

masses WhatIclaimis:

cally disposed strip having the edges of adjacent convolutions interiolded to form a helical seam at the outermost side of the corrugation, the said 'seam being fixed and the tube depending tor flexibility on bending of the material in the corrugation, the said seam being coated with a metal layer which adheres to the seamed parts tightening the seam and holding the parts against displacement.

2. A flexible corrugated tube comprising a helically disposed resilient metal strip having a longitudinal groove forming the corrugation in the completed tube, said strip having the edges otcorrugation, the said seam being rigid and the tube depending Iorflexibility on bending of the metal in the walls of the corrugation and said seam being coated with a layer of metal-which adheres to the seamed parts, tightening the seam and holding the parts against displacement.

3. A flexible corrugated tube comprising a helically disposed resilient metal strip having a longitudinal groove forming the corrugation in the completed tube, said strip having the edges of adiacent convolutions interiolded to form a helical seam, said seam being rigid and the tube depending {or flexibility on bending n! the metal in the walls of the corrugation and said seam being coated with a layer of metal which adheres to the seamed parts, tightening the seam and holding the parts against displacement. i

R. HA RY STONE. I 

